Animal abuse case now before DA

Published 11:05 pm, Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Photo: Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

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Kelly Reid Walls, a volunteer for Homeward Bound Dog Rescue, addresses the City Council, including Councilman Diego Bernal and Mayor Julián Castro. She said a dead dog in a possible abuse case was a victim “of ACS' failure to act in a timely manner.” less

Kelly Reid Walls, a volunteer for Homeward Bound Dog Rescue, addresses the City Council, including Councilman Diego Bernal and Mayor Julián Castro. She said a dead dog in a possible abuse case was a victim ... more

Photo: Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

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Animal rights advocate Kelly Reid Walls, with Homeward Bound Dog Rescue, speaks with a city staffer after appearing before the San Antonio City Council during a Citizens to be Heard session, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013. She and other animal rights activist are calling for a change in the Animal Care Services leadership after a puppy died and two other disappeared this month. less

Animal rights advocate Kelly Reid Walls, with Homeward Bound Dog Rescue, speaks with a city staffer after appearing before the San Antonio City Council during a Citizens to be Heard session, Wednesday, Oct. 16, ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Animal abuse case now before DA

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SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County district attorney's office is investigating a case of potential animal abuse that involves the death of a puppy and the disappearance of two others on the East Side.

A spokeswoman for Animal Care Services said Wednesday that the case was forwarded to the DA for further review. The owner of the three dogs, which a neighbor alleges were starved in the 900 block of Hampton Street, could face criminal charges.

The case — and a disturbing photograph of the dead brown dog curled against a wall— circulated on social media networks after the neighbor's daughter-in-law sent an email to an animal rescue group. ACS said it was called to the home Sept. 18 and didn't find signs of starvation but told the owner to go to a veterinarian. On Oct. 4, the neighbor reported to the city that one of the dogs was dead and the other two had escaped.

Kelly Reid Walls, who volunteers for Homeward Bound Dog Rescue, addressed the case before the City Council on Wednesday night.

“This is one of the victims of ACS' failure to act in a timely manner,” she said about the photo of the dead dog that was projected before Mayor Julián Castro and council members at the citizens-to-be-heard session.

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Earlier Wednesday, when asked about the case, Castro said he was confident that it would be thoroughly reviewed.

“The city of San Antonio owes it to our residents and to our animals to do everything they can to keep the animals safe and to be responsive when there is a complaint,” he said. “I have no doubt that there will be a significant review.”